Polar M400 GPS running watch review - the (almost) perfect running companion
I'm a bit of a geek when I buy new gear, crawling through reviews to find the perfect tool for the job.
Most reviews suck - simply recycling the stats and promo blurb of the manufacturer.
My reviews are about living with the kit - and all kit is paid for out of my own pocket.
(*photos will be added soon)
Polar M400
I wanted a GPS watch that I could also wear as a daily watch.
After reading many reviews for entry level GPS watches including Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Tomtom and Fitbit I had narrowed my search down to 2 watches.
For me it was a choice between the Suunto Ambit3 and the Polar M400.
Both came with some positives and negatives from the reviews. I tried the watches on in a shop and my decision became much easier.
The Ambit3 was massive on my wrist and cost around £300 for the cheapest model. The M400 was slim in comparison and cost about £160.
It also tracks daily activity, can give basic notifications from your phone, such as messages and calls.
I bought the Polar M400 - and it was the (almost) perfect choice.
The looks 4/5
The Polar M400 is quite a small watch in the GPS watch game. Somehow they've managed to sneak in the GPS tracker, a decent battery and all the other stuff inside of watches into something that isn't much bigger than one of those oldskool calculator Casio watches.
You can wear a shirt and it's able to sneak under the cuff without too much trouble.
There are a few colours in the Polar M400 range - I chose blue, because I wanted something that has a bit of personality, but if you prefer a more sedate black then that is an option too. Other colours include: white.
The blue looks bright out of the box, but once on the wrist it doesn't look too garish. It also doesn't look like a big blue monstrosity eating your arm.
The display 4/5
I've never had a problem reading the display. In darkness, just press the light button. In lightness, just look at it and you can see the writing.
In sport modes there are various metrics that the M400 can display. These can be configured and set in the online app fairly easily and scrolled between while on the run.
The buttons 4/5
The start button has a handy little red colouring around it to remind you which button you need to press. It might seem a bit excessive, but sometimes when you're running your brain needs little reminders of which button you should or shouldn't push (Trump - take note).
The GPS 4/5
Now I'm not looking for NASA grade tracking - but I do want to know whether I am 50 km or 50 metres into a run. The Polar M400 over most measured races I've run has had me within 100-200 metres of the advertised distance. Even over a 60km race I tracked within a few hundred metres of a friend running with me on his Suunto Ambit3 Peak.
The GPS takes up to 30 seconds on a bad day to find the GPS when you want it. The only time I've ever really wanted it quicker is when I've forgotten to get ready before the starting gun.
The GPS can get lost sometimes when running next to big buildings. When it loses you it is honest and tells you and then it usually finds me again within a few seconds when a bit further from the tall building. On my lunch run between Wandsworth and Albert Bridge in London there is one building that I regularly lose connection with - I presume a GPS blackspot.
The battery 3/5
For pretty much anyone running up to a marathon this should give you enough juice to get to the end.
7 hours is what the packaging tells me - 7 hours is what I got on my first ultra before I needed to top it up. You can recharge on the run, but not while wearing the watch due to the position of the charging port.
The charging port 4/5
The best thing about the Polar M400 charging port is that it takes a mini-USB - yep, the same one as you use for most mobile phones (except iPhones) these days. This means you don't need to take your cable with you everywhere when you need to add some juice or download data direct to a PC.
Some people report rustiness around their USB port. I've never noticed anything like that in the year of use I had with my Polar M400. I usually wear in the shower so I guess any salty sweat gets washed away there. I suggest giving it a rinse after any big activity.
Unfortunately the positioning of the port means you can't wear it and charge it. But you can charge while tracking - just a little awkwardly.
The phone app 4/5
Basic - but functional.
You can check out your run details and any training schedules you've lined up. I rarely needed to look at the web app unless I wanted to look at my runs in a bit more detail and with a bit more interactivity.
You can also keep an eye on how many steps you've done - on the watch this is lumped in to show as daily activity - the number of steps is available in the phone app.
The online app 4/5
I've resisted paying the premium for Strava as yet - and this was an easy option while running Polar Flow - the Polar M400's web application.
Polar Flow is mostly user friendly - which you won't find on Suunto Movescount - and the Garmin app seems pretty convoluted for users too.
That said, Polar Flow has always had bugs in it from the reports I have read - there was a whole "Explore" section that didn't work for at least the first year I had my watch. It looks like "Explore" works now, but I don't think it is exactly the part of the app that makes it great to use.
The diary is the main section any user will use. In here you can look at past activities or schedule in future runs etc. It's pretty self explanatory once you're using it.
The other section that rocks is the "Progress" tab. In here you can see how you are improving (or not) over time. I love the "Running Index Report" which gives you some insight into your ability and predicts how fast you might complete other distances
The scales 1/5
I got pulled into the Polar family of products because I was trying to watch my weight. So I bought the Polar Balance Scales. They were expensive scales and they only measure in pounds or kilos. If you are a Brit like me then this doesn't really work as you're forever trying to convert your weight to Stones.
The heart-rate monitor 3/5
The Polar H7 heart rate monitor measures heart rate. And it does it well. It doesn't really work while swimming, although it is waterproof.
It syncs by bluetooth to the watch - and only a couple of times has it not worked as well as I would expect.
The original strap warped quite quickly. But I managed to pick up a base layer t-shirt that I could plug the monitor into. I also picked up a replacement strap for about £10.
The H7 is also compatible with other watches.
The watch as a watch 5/5
It tells you the time.
You can change the display to an analogue or digital face. You can also have it tell you your name in case you're a bit forgetful.
It can have one daily alarm.
It can be used as a calendar - although you need to add stuff outside of the watch.
The watch as an activity tracker 5/5
You can set your activity level in the app and basically the watch keeps an eye on your movement. The Polar M400 will tell you to move once an hour - if you've been sat on your backside constantly. At first I found this feature cute - eventually it became annoying.
Steps are counted and can be seen in the phone or online app.
It also can see how much restful sleep you get each night - a feature I really liked as I am a bit of an insomniac.
The training programs 4/5
When I picked up the watch the training programs didn't exist. When they were introduced I based my entire ultra marathon training program around a marathon plan. It didn't quite work 100%, because I was upping a few distances. But it gave me a solid starting point.
It has training programs from 5K-marathon, and they take your skill into consideration and help build a realistic base.
The navigator 2/5
This isn't a navigation watch, but it will get you back to the start - in a straight line. This is great in theory and has got me out of some trouble - but it has also got me lost in a field in Devon. Though I would say that was mainly user fault.
Polar M400 - the conclusion 4/5
The Polar M400 is (almost) perfect for a beginner runner. The price is very attractive. At around £160 it features more than any other competitor of a similar price. In fact, I think of this watch as a gym on my wrist and is well worth every penny (not often you'll hear that from me).
The mobile and online apps are user friendly and show great metrics in a clear manner. It has a handy training program that adapts to your skill level. Plus it isn't a great hulking lump on your wrist. And it does all the essentials well.
The 2 features I needed that the Polar M400 couldn't offer me were battery life and navigation.
The battery won't go more than 7 hours - and as a prospective ultra runner this might be an issue. Navigation is a feature that would also take this to another level, but it would also add a fair bit onto the price tag.
Most reviews suck - simply recycling the stats and promo blurb of the manufacturer.
My reviews are about living with the kit - and all kit is paid for out of my own pocket.
(*photos will be added soon)
Polar M400
I wanted a GPS watch that I could also wear as a daily watch.
After reading many reviews for entry level GPS watches including Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Tomtom and Fitbit I had narrowed my search down to 2 watches.
For me it was a choice between the Suunto Ambit3 and the Polar M400.
Both came with some positives and negatives from the reviews. I tried the watches on in a shop and my decision became much easier.
The Ambit3 was massive on my wrist and cost around £300 for the cheapest model. The M400 was slim in comparison and cost about £160.
It also tracks daily activity, can give basic notifications from your phone, such as messages and calls.
I bought the Polar M400 - and it was the (almost) perfect choice.
The looks 4/5
The Polar M400 is quite a small watch in the GPS watch game. Somehow they've managed to sneak in the GPS tracker, a decent battery and all the other stuff inside of watches into something that isn't much bigger than one of those oldskool calculator Casio watches.
There are a few colours in the Polar M400 range - I chose blue, because I wanted something that has a bit of personality, but if you prefer a more sedate black then that is an option too. Other colours include: white.
The blue looks bright out of the box, but once on the wrist it doesn't look too garish. It also doesn't look like a big blue monstrosity eating your arm.
The display 4/5
I've never had a problem reading the display. In darkness, just press the light button. In lightness, just look at it and you can see the writing.
In sport modes there are various metrics that the M400 can display. These can be configured and set in the online app fairly easily and scrolled between while on the run.
The buttons 4/5
The start button has a handy little red colouring around it to remind you which button you need to press. It might seem a bit excessive, but sometimes when you're running your brain needs little reminders of which button you should or shouldn't push (Trump - take note).
The GPS 4/5
Now I'm not looking for NASA grade tracking - but I do want to know whether I am 50 km or 50 metres into a run. The Polar M400 over most measured races I've run has had me within 100-200 metres of the advertised distance. Even over a 60km race I tracked within a few hundred metres of a friend running with me on his Suunto Ambit3 Peak.
The GPS takes up to 30 seconds on a bad day to find the GPS when you want it. The only time I've ever really wanted it quicker is when I've forgotten to get ready before the starting gun.
The GPS can get lost sometimes when running next to big buildings. When it loses you it is honest and tells you and then it usually finds me again within a few seconds when a bit further from the tall building. On my lunch run between Wandsworth and Albert Bridge in London there is one building that I regularly lose connection with - I presume a GPS blackspot.
The battery 3/5
For pretty much anyone running up to a marathon this should give you enough juice to get to the end.
7 hours is what the packaging tells me - 7 hours is what I got on my first ultra before I needed to top it up. You can recharge on the run, but not while wearing the watch due to the position of the charging port.
The charging port 4/5
The best thing about the Polar M400 charging port is that it takes a mini-USB - yep, the same one as you use for most mobile phones (except iPhones) these days. This means you don't need to take your cable with you everywhere when you need to add some juice or download data direct to a PC.
Some people report rustiness around their USB port. I've never noticed anything like that in the year of use I had with my Polar M400. I usually wear in the shower so I guess any salty sweat gets washed away there. I suggest giving it a rinse after any big activity.
Unfortunately the positioning of the port means you can't wear it and charge it. But you can charge while tracking - just a little awkwardly.
The phone app 4/5
Basic - but functional.
You can check out your run details and any training schedules you've lined up. I rarely needed to look at the web app unless I wanted to look at my runs in a bit more detail and with a bit more interactivity.
You can also keep an eye on how many steps you've done - on the watch this is lumped in to show as daily activity - the number of steps is available in the phone app.
The online app 4/5
I've resisted paying the premium for Strava as yet - and this was an easy option while running Polar Flow - the Polar M400's web application.
Polar Flow is mostly user friendly - which you won't find on Suunto Movescount - and the Garmin app seems pretty convoluted for users too.
That said, Polar Flow has always had bugs in it from the reports I have read - there was a whole "Explore" section that didn't work for at least the first year I had my watch. It looks like "Explore" works now, but I don't think it is exactly the part of the app that makes it great to use.
The diary is the main section any user will use. In here you can look at past activities or schedule in future runs etc. It's pretty self explanatory once you're using it.
The other section that rocks is the "Progress" tab. In here you can see how you are improving (or not) over time. I love the "Running Index Report" which gives you some insight into your ability and predicts how fast you might complete other distances
The scales 1/5
I got pulled into the Polar family of products because I was trying to watch my weight. So I bought the Polar Balance Scales. They were expensive scales and they only measure in pounds or kilos. If you are a Brit like me then this doesn't really work as you're forever trying to convert your weight to Stones.
The heart-rate monitor 3/5
The Polar H7 heart rate monitor measures heart rate. And it does it well. It doesn't really work while swimming, although it is waterproof.
It syncs by bluetooth to the watch - and only a couple of times has it not worked as well as I would expect.
The original strap warped quite quickly. But I managed to pick up a base layer t-shirt that I could plug the monitor into. I also picked up a replacement strap for about £10.
The H7 is also compatible with other watches.
The watch as a watch 5/5
It tells you the time.
You can change the display to an analogue or digital face. You can also have it tell you your name in case you're a bit forgetful.
It can have one daily alarm.
It can be used as a calendar - although you need to add stuff outside of the watch.
The watch as an activity tracker 5/5
You can set your activity level in the app and basically the watch keeps an eye on your movement. The Polar M400 will tell you to move once an hour - if you've been sat on your backside constantly. At first I found this feature cute - eventually it became annoying.
Steps are counted and can be seen in the phone or online app.
It also can see how much restful sleep you get each night - a feature I really liked as I am a bit of an insomniac.
 |
| Lazy Matt: Although I'd already run 50km that day |
The training programs 4/5
When I picked up the watch the training programs didn't exist. When they were introduced I based my entire ultra marathon training program around a marathon plan. It didn't quite work 100%, because I was upping a few distances. But it gave me a solid starting point.
It has training programs from 5K-marathon, and they take your skill into consideration and help build a realistic base.
The navigator 2/5
This isn't a navigation watch, but it will get you back to the start - in a straight line. This is great in theory and has got me out of some trouble - but it has also got me lost in a field in Devon. Though I would say that was mainly user fault.
Polar M400 - the conclusion 4/5
The Polar M400 is (almost) perfect for a beginner runner. The price is very attractive. At around £160 it features more than any other competitor of a similar price. In fact, I think of this watch as a gym on my wrist and is well worth every penny (not often you'll hear that from me).
The mobile and online apps are user friendly and show great metrics in a clear manner. It has a handy training program that adapts to your skill level. Plus it isn't a great hulking lump on your wrist. And it does all the essentials well.
The 2 features I needed that the Polar M400 couldn't offer me were battery life and navigation.
The battery won't go more than 7 hours - and as a prospective ultra runner this might be an issue. Navigation is a feature that would also take this to another level, but it would also add a fair bit onto the price tag.
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